In the 113rd plenary session of the International Labor Conference, held on June 10, 2025 in Geneva, the Minister of Labor and Social Security participated, Ceramic Victoryrepresenting the Greek Government, accompanied by the Secretary General of Labor Relations, Nikos Malapidis.
During her speech, the minister noted that Greece is focusing its efforts in three main areas.
First sector: Further decrease in unemployment, focusing in particular a) women, b) young people and c) people with disabilities.
As he said, “during the government’s term, that is, in 2019, we have achieved a 53%reduction in unemployment. We are today at the lowest unemployment rate of the last 17 years. “
In fact, he stressed that our country is implementing targeted policies to combat young people’s unemployment, such as “career days”, enhancing professional apprenticeships and subsidized employment programs, aimed at young people, providing employers to hire and educate them.
“Similarly” he added, “we have introduced a series of targeted policies to increase women’s employment rate, such as expanding maternity leave and benefits from 6 to 9 months, providing the ability to transfer up to 7 months of maternity leave to fathers and predicting a license.”
In addition, as far as our fellow citizens with disabilities are concerned, Ms Kerameos emphasized the need to ensure the opportunity for people who wish to work to do so. “We have allowed people with disabilities to be able to receive disability pensions, without having to cut off their employment. We are also focusing on subsidized employment programs for people with disabilities to facilitate their integration into the market, “the Labor Minister said.
Second Sector: Protecting employees’ rights, by improving working conditions and increasing compliance with labor law.
Ms Kerameos explained that, in Greece, “we are applying the policy of the digital work card. Employees sweep a unique QR code when they start and complete their work, accurately recording their working time. This policy not only simplifies the processes of verification of legal employment time, but also ensures greater transparency and justice in the labor market. “
Third sector: Promoting collective bargaining and social dialogue.
On this issue, the Minister of Labor said that the trilateral social dialogue, with the participation of workers, employers and governments, is a key to achieving the goal of quality jobs.
“At the Ministry of Labor, a process of consulting with social partners to develop a national action plan to increase the coverage of workers by collective agreements has now begun. Our goal is to make the necessary modifications to legislation, processes and culture to create the right environment for the flourishing of social dialogue and signing more collective agreements, ”he said.
In addition, Ms Kerameos informed the Conference that the Greek Government has proceeded with the process of ratifying certain protocols and contracts of the International Labor Organization, such as Convention 155 for safety and health at work and the work environment and contract 191 for the safe and healthy work environment.
He even announced that the above will be incorporated into a bill, which would contain – among other things – important provisions for enhancing health and safety at work.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Minister of Labor, accompanied by the Secretary General of Labor Relations, Nikos Malasis and the permanent representative of Greece in the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador, Mr. Ioannis Gikas, met with the head of the International Organization, Gilbert Houm. Responsible for issues of governance, rights and dialogue.